TRAVEL DESTINATION - on the map today - BALI     

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The photos here will have to supplement the dialogue, because for me, Bali, cannot be described or justified with words alone. Yes, it is magic, and terribly beautiful. This island seamlessly merges stunning tropical landscape, (yes those leaves ARE over 6 feet tall), sublime food (yes, satay was BORN here) and fresh fruits that are so copious and varied a book is required to discover all of them. The amazing clouds - oh - these are the kind you can only see near the equator, hover over the rice paddies and reflect in the water between the green shoots.

The people of Bali seem to float as they weave along on their motor bikes, carrying the weekly supplies and wife and two children! The women are dressed in stunning batiks, and they walk with such presence, carrying on their heads two foot high masterpieces of art - called offerings - for their Gods and the ancestors. The beauty is staggering and the colors and shapes are lively and wild from exotic flowers, to rice figures, and incense to chickens.

All of the arts are commonplace with entire villages devoted to either silver smithing, wood carving, basket weaving or stone work and there are villages where making salt by hand is traditional. While traveling to hilltop Temples, greedy monkeys lie in wait, anticipating gifts of peanuts, bananas and hopefully your sunglasses.

The music of Bali made my hairs stand on end as my deepest soul was pricked, and everywhere in this amazing place was laughter, smile and graceful dance. It takes little courage to visit Bali and great courage to leave it.

Namaste - Julie